Important Advisory:

We are now requiring companies to provide us with documentation that their products have been tested by an independent lab for phthalates and lead.

We are requiring products submtted going forward to: (1) Follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that products contain no more than trace amounts of lead (as defined by the AAP as 40 parts per million); and (2) contain no phthalates.

However, as we are not a lab, we will not be independently verifying those results. Also, with the exception of the 2008 Platinum Toy Awards, toys submitted for review prior to January 2008 were not tested for lead..

Safety Recalls: Given the absence of more stringent federal legislation, we encourage consumers to keep up to date on safety recalls. Sign up for CPSC safety email alerts. Click here.

Instructions for submitting product to the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for review.

Contact the Toyportfolio @ (212) 598-0502 or by email at Webmaster@Toyportfolio.com.

Copyright 1995-2008. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio - All Rights Reserved. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Award are Registered Trademarks of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.

Children are by nature born scientists- they have great curiosity about the natural world. The trick for parents is to keep that interest alive and well with products that invite hands-on observation and questions. Some of these products give kids instantaneous feedback. But, most of them take time and involve transformations.

( TWC of America$$15.99$ ) The Deluxe Clear-View Nature House ($15.99) is a sturdy hut-shaped wooden house half see-thru, half screened with sliding door; a perfect temporary habitat for observing bugs and small critters. 6 & up. Also, Soil Dweller Nature House Kit ($20) for making a wooden-framed house for earthworms. 8 & up. Age: Late School Years. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2004

( Discovery Kids$$19.95$ ) At first glance this avalanche kit seems a lot like most of the volcano kits you may have seen - a five-minute wonder. But our 11-year old tester liked painting the model of Mt. Everest. While it was drying he and his mom read through the excellent booklet that explains how real avalanches happen, as well as the nature of the "insta-snow" - grains of white polymer that come with the kit. Add water to a measure of "insta-snow" and "Watch out below!" It cascades from the mountaintop! This kind of polymer is used in indoor snow-boarding parks and is related to the super absorbent polymer in disposable diapers. There are a number of other hands-on experiments and the good news is that if you store the saturated fluffy "insta-snow" in an open container, they shrink and dry and are ready to do their magic again. Our tester now insists on showing all visitors a demonstration. Adult supervision suggested. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: 800- 938-0333. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2005

( Insect Lore $$30$ ) A large 2-foot tall updated version of a habitat for hatching painted ladies butterflies. The pop-up mesh tent can be hung or put on a tabletop. This is a three-week long project with all the magic of watching caterpillars transform themselves into chrysalis and then into beautiful butterflies that can be released into your garden. When you bring home the Pavilion you send your certificate for the caterpillars. A good project to capture with camera as it moves along and keep a log of the dates and changes. This size comes with 10 caterpillars; a smaller Live Butterfly Garden(19.99) one foot comes with certificate for five caterpillars. 4 & up. Age: Preschool, Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: (800) 548-3284. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2004

( Progressive Trading Inc. $$34.95$ ) We’ve seen a lot of these magnetic building kits. Thanks to the X shaped pieces in this set it’s possible to build curved structures by making a cube and adding a triangular connection. Our builders were delighted to find more steel ball connectors in this kit, as well as the new shape. Kit comes with 28 bars, 53 steel balls and 25 “X” bars. 5 & up. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: (800) 903-6249. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2004